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Sony coughs to third-gen PSP power problem

Brighter LCD = shorter battery life

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Sony has admitted that the new PlayStation Portable 3000’s brighter, richer display has shortened the handheld console’s battery life.

The PSP-3000's brighter screen (bottom) cuts battery life by 20 to 30 minutes

In an interview with website Gamespot, John Koller, Director of Hardware Marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America, said the PSP-3000’s battery life has been reduced by up to half an hour because of the much-hyped new LCD display.

“There’s a little bit of a larger power draw with the brighter screen,” he said. “The battery that comes with the PSP-3000 will last about three-and-a-half to four hours.”

Sony unveiled the PSP-3000 last month and has positioned the third-gen PSP’s selling point around its “advanced” 4.3in, 480 x 272, 16:9 ratio LCD screen. The display, Sony’s claims, allows gamers to see brighter colours and a better-defined on-screen imaged in natural light.

It’s not all bad news for gamers prone to extended PSP gaming sessions though, because Sony will soon sell you an extended battery that boosts the PSP-3000’s battery life to between eight and ten hours, it claimed.

The PSP-3000 will appear in Europe and the US on 15 October in a variety of single-game bundle packs, including FIFA ‘09 and Harry Potter. White, black and silver body colours will be available, each priced at £150 (€200/$295).